Recycling efforts face increased costs

Recycling programs in Iowa’s cities are facing some economic troubles. Iowa’s largest city is cutting back its weekly curbside recycling pickup toonce every two weeks. Des Moines officials made the move to cut the cost ofrunning the program. Iowa Department of Natural Resources environmentalspecialist Jeff Geertz says Des Moines is not alone as all recycling programsin the state are facing a money crunch. He says one part of the problem isthe the price of new materials has dropped, cutting the demand for recycledmaterial.Geertz says competition is also making it more expensive to recycle. He saysmore private garbage haulers are now in business in Iowa.Geertz says he doesn’t know of any other cities cutting back on the pick upof recyclables, but he says many are looking at or have increased their feesto make up incease operating costs. Geertz says he isn’t worried thatincreased fees will keep Iowans from taking the time to sort their garbagefor recycling.